Depending on who you talk to, Monday’s vote by the Ohio Controlling Board to approve $2.5 billion for Medicaid expansion was either a landmark victory for thousands in need of health care or an unconstitutional and unaffordable ballooning of big government.
Either way, the fight over whether Ohio should accept billions of federal dollars to extend health care to low-income residents is likely to continue, either in court or at the polls.
The 5-2 Controlling Board vote marked a culmination of a months-long push, led by Gov. John Kasich, to have the state accept the first chunk of an estimated $13 billion offered to it for Medicaid expansion under President Obama’s Affordable Care Act.
When GOP lawmakers resisted taking the funding, Kasich instead turned to the little-known board to appropriate the money – at least, until legislators draw up a new state budget in two years. By accepting the money, 275,000 additional Ohioans will be eligible for Medicaid benefits starting Jan. 1, 2014, according to administration estimates. Currently 2.35 million people — or about one out of every five Ohioans – are enrolled in Medicaid.
Supporters said the decision to make Ohio the 25th state to accept the federal funding was a signal achievement that, with a single blow, will help to improve the lives of poor Ohioans.
“There’s moments that we can walk with history — as citizens, help make history — and this is one step in doing that,” said Rob English, lead organizer of Greater Cleveland Congregations, an interfaith group representing 40 religious and community organizations.
Crucial support for expansion came from the business community, including traditionally GOP-friendly groups such as the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber of Commerce’s Keith Lake said in a statement that expansion would help protect employers from the ACA’s penalties and could create thousands of jobs, particularly in the health-care industry.
State by state
“The question of whether or not to expand Medicaid is a complex one. However, doing so is ultimately the right decision,” Lake said.
Hospitals also aggressively pushed for the measure, worried that, among other things, that without Medicaid expansion, they would be left on the hook as federal aid for uninsured patients is decreased.
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